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Post by Onzy on Dec 25, 2010 23:33:21 GMT
 * i look at you all see the LOVE there that's SLEEPING(WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Jasper heaved the western saddle onto his hip, and the split ear bridle hung over his shoulder. The winter was being harsh, but a good workout was all that he needed. A blue roan head stuck his head over his stall door. Hey Arrow, he crooned to the mare. Her dainty ears were forward, and alert. She knew that they were going into working mode. Jasper pulled on the goat skin gloves after warming up the loose shank bit. He took his time grooming the mare, letting his thoughts wander with him.
The rest of his attire consisted of jeans, flannel shirt with jacket, cowboy boots, and full-leg leather chaps. Fixing the cinch, he led the mare to the indoor arena. It wasn't a place ideal for running barrels, but the outdoor arena was resembling a skating ring with all the snow. He didn't want any more horses getting hurt, after Misty's accident in the paddock. If Arrow got hurt then he had to find another horse and the auctions didn't always have western mounts. Coffee was only starting to accept him now, and it was going to be a long process until the Saddler mare could be ridden.
Setting up the barrels, he mounted Arrow, who was dancing in place. Warm up first, then we run, he said with a smile. Slackening the reins, he moved Arrow into a trot, moving with her comfy rhythm. Her trot was smooth, and he could feel the power in her frame that made her such a fantastic barrel horse. He was still to try her around cattle, but the English cows were a little dopey when it came to being herded. His father called them plodders. Shifting his weight, Arrow got the message to canter, and Jasper was merely perched on her back. &tagged; freebird
&outfit; coming
&lyrics; while my guitar gently weeps by the beatles
&listening to; traumaby on the TV
¬es; ooc notes here
&credits; template by brooke from caution |
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Post by freebird on Dec 28, 2010 4:25:17 GMT
Raelynn entered the staff and student barn, her boot heels clicking against the stone floor. Her entrance to the college was particularly quiet, and she was extremely grateful for it. She had received her job as a groom, and she was quickly settling into her life of grooming horses and taking care of her own. The people around seemed friendly enough, although she did not have a connection with any of them yet. Still, she was trying to keep her confidence up, and wanted to believe things would work out here.
She continued to walk down the aisle before she reached the stall which held her only horse. The big, bay gelding was positioned towards the back of his stall, his eyes closed and foot cocked halfway. Raelynn let out a quick whistle, and Lion pricked his ears, now aware of the presence in front of his stall. Hello handsome She called out and let out a quick chuckle. Ready to go out boy? She quickly slid the door open, and grabbed his halter before leading him out of the stall.
The tall, big boned thoroughbred danced out of the stall, sending out a nicker to the other horses. Raelynn was not particularly short, but Lion made her look absolutely tiny. She quickly clipped the gelding to crossties and began to groom his bay coat. The veins on his neck stood out slightly, and she ran a hand over his neck to soothe the gelding. Taking her time to groom him, she let her thoughts wander to her life. Never would she of imagined being here, but she was.
Once she finished grooming him, she hurried to the tack room to collect his tack. She returned with his figure 8 bridle, jumper saddle and saddle pad and jumping breastplate. Raelynn was unsure if she was going to jump him so soon in a new place, but she would outfit him in that in case. She placed the white saddle pad onto his back, followed by his saddle. Lion danced nervously, and Raelynn buckled the girth before he could get girthy. The breastplate was connected to the saddle after, and she quickly did the bridle on the gelding.
Pulling the reins over his head, she quickly contemplated the options on where to take him. The outdoor ring was out, as there was snow covering the arena. The trails were also out, so the indoor arena was the only option. She led him to the indoor arena, only to see someone already riding in it. The rider was clearly handsome, and the horse looked plenty powerful. Thoughts ran through her head as to if she should enter the arena, and her head rested on the latch.
Sighing, she decided to call out to the rider and enter the arena. Gate! She called out loudly and apprehensively, and hoped she would not distract the other horse and rider. Lion danced through the gate, anxious at the other horse cantering and Raelynn kept him out of the path. Lion raised his head, ears pricked and nostrils flaring. Raelynn patted his neck reassuringly, before pulling down the stirrups on the gelding. Walking to the left side, she took an extra big grip of mane and reins, and swung herself onto the gelding's back. She settled herself into the saddle, collecting her stirrups as well.
She pointed the gelding towards the outside lane, keeping a firm grasp on the gelding's reins, while keeping a watchful eye on the other rider. Handsome he was, and the horse was gorgeous as well. She let the reins run long, and let Lion just casually walk around the arena. |
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Post by Onzy on Dec 28, 2010 12:37:45 GMT
* i look at you all see the LOVE there that's SLEEPING(WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS)- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Jasper shifted his hands slightly when they came to the corner of the arena. Along with this he moved his weight slightly left, indicating the direction to turn. Arrow responded instantly, her fine ears pricked forward, alert to all that was going on around her. He let his legs hang low and pushed his weight into his feet. No interference came from his legs, and on days like these he felt like a passenger on Arrow. The mare always willing to work, and felt like she had wings. Jasper looked at the barrels, glad he had set them up at the top of the arena when he heard the call of Gate. So he was not to be alone on this day.
He slowed Arrow to a jog and then walk, walking the rest of the arena before lining up in line with the middle barrel. Arrow stepped in place, chomping on the bit, ready to run. It would be a full out sprint around the barrels, and a time that trust between horse and rider was tested. With a call Yah! Arrow sprang forward at full speed. Time seemed to slow down, but in a few seconds it would all be over. Guiding her around the barrels, Arrow was lithe enough to judge her own speed around them, but Jasper was the guide.
That's my girl, he praised the mare as they stopped again. She blew through her lips, and Jasper wondered if she would want to go again. Seeing the other rider, he doffed his stetson in her direction. &tagged; freebird
&outfit; coming
&lyrics; while my guitar gently weeps by the beatles
&listening to; Full Moonby The Black Hotels
¬es; ooc notes here
&credits; template by brooke from caution |
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Post by freebird on Dec 29, 2010 17:24:02 GMT
Raelynn watched briefly as the other horse and rider raced effortlessly around the barrels. Their effort seemed so fast and effortless, although Raelynn knew she could not ever do that. Especially with such a big boned horse like this one. She had not seen much of western events, but the ones she had seen involved smaller, quicker horses. Still though, the other rider and horse made their effort look absolutely flawless. Lion was still walking placidly around the arena, her reins were still long and her posture was completely relaxed in the saddle.
When the other rider made a slight gesture towards her, she smiled briefly and raised her hand slightly in a hello. Dropping her head after that, she realized she looked like a bit of a fool. She placed her hand back on the reins, and shortened them greatly. Lion picked his head up, chewing eagerly on the bit and left his slightly oversized bay ears pricked forward. Raelynn knew that Lion was eager to work, and he seemed warmed up enough to pick up a faster pace.
Nudging him softly with her heels, she sat a few strides before picking up a solid post to his trot. Lion felt long and strong, and the other rider was the furthest thing from her mind at the moment. However, she made sure to keep Lion away from the other horse. She did not know how the other horse was when horses got closer to her, and Lion could sometimes get grumpy.
On the other side of the arena, a few midsize fences were set up in a small line. Once they completed a few cycles of their half of the arena at a trot, Raelynn decided to point Lion towards the fences. The fences were gymnastics, and she knew there would be no time for Lion to take a stride in between. She kept Lion to a controlled trot until they were completely lined up.
Right before the first fence, Raelynn nudged him softly to ask for a quicker pace. Lion picked it up slightly, and Raelynn leaned forward when she felt him begin his takeoff. Lion powerfully jumped the fence, landed and took off again for the next fence. Raelynn sat back briefly in between the fences, before leaning over his neck over each fence. Before she knew it, the line was over and Lion landed in a strong canter. Sitting back, she easily sat to his canter for a few strides before beginning to ease him into a slower pace. |
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